Vampire Weekend speak about ‘open-minded’ approach to new album

Bassist Chris Baio tells NME about the follow to 'Contra' and his new solo EP

Vampire Weekend have already “many songs” in the bag for their next album, bassist Chris Baio has revealed.

In an interview in this week’s NME which is on UK newsstands or available digitally now he said that the much-anticipated follow up to 2010’s ‘Contra’ is “in progress now”.

He also spoke about his solo project, a three-track EP of dance jams to be released under his DJ moniker Baio, commenting:

Something we talk about in the band is having an open-mindedness when you’re working on music and I feel like, hopefully this solo thing of mine is also a product of an open minded approach to music.

Commenting on the sound of the new material, he said: “With this release, there is an upbeat, maybe even tropical sound to it, but at then same time there’s a little bit of melancholy and sombreness to all of the tracks. That’s something that I’m drawn to. I like the idea of music that hold two somewhat opposing emotions at the same time.”

Titled ‘Sunburn’, Baio’s EP is set for release on Hot Chip man Joe Goddard’s Greco-Roman label on May 21.

Vampire Weekend frontman Frontman Ezra Koenig recently said that the band’s new album could be released later this year. Meanwhile, Vampire Weekend are set to play their first live date in almost a year at the Pitchfork music festival in July.